Randy's Guide 5-8-1: June State Primary

Turnout was predictably dismal for the elections in SF to date this year. Just 36% of registered voters cast a ballot in the February election, which resulted in the recall of all three board members with at least two-thirds of the votes in favor.

Then the special election in April plummeted to around 29%, as Matt Haney trounced David Campos by a 62-38 margin to represent State Assembly District 17.

Now, California's Primary Election is around the corner next week on Tuesday, June 7. Many counties, such as San Diego, Butte, and Fresno, offer early voting options. For example, SF City Hall is open weekdays and this weekend. 

Election Day hours are 7am-8pm statewide for in-person voting. All registered voters received a ballot by mail. You can drop off your ballot at any polling place or official drop box in your county. If you go the USPS route, the ballot must be postmarked by Election Day for it to be valid.

California has a top-two system, meaning you can vote for any candidate in the Primary, and the two candidates with the most votes advance to the November General Election. Statewide races include Governor, US Senator, and Controller, with regional votes for the US House. SF has eight local propositions, including the contentious District Attorney recall.

Governor:

Gavin Newsom is expected to coast as one of the two selections. The CA Republican Party endorses State Sen. Brian Dahle, who represents northeastern California, including South Lake Tahoe, Redding, and Auburn.

US Senator:

Rob Padilla, Governor Newsom's appointee, is also forecast to be one of the top two vote getters. The CA Republican Party endorses attorney Mark Meuser.

Controller:

Lanhee Chen: CA Republican Party; Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT); House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA); former House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI); OC Sheriff Don Barnes; LA Times; OC Register

Malia Cohen: CA Democratic Party; House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA); Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA); Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA); State Controller Betty Yee; State Sen. Scott Wiener; SF Mayor London Breed; CA Teachers Assn; Planned Parenthood; SEIU CA

Ron Galperin: State Controller Betty Yee; LA Mayor Eric Garcetti; former State Controller John Chiang; SF Chronicle; Equality CA; Planned Parenthood 

Steve Glazer: Sacramento Bee; SJ Mercury News

Laura Wells: CA Green Party; CA Peace and Freedom Party

Yvonne Yiu: former State Controller John Chiang

US House, District 11:

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi looks primed for a 19th term. John Dennis gets the SF Republican Party endorsement.

Proposition A: MUNI Reliability and Street Safety Bond

Authorize $400 million in bonds for repairs, renovation, traffic improvements, and street redesigns.

YES: SF Democratic Party, Mayor London Breed, all 11 Board of Supervisors, State Treasurer Fiona Ma, State Sen. Scott Wiener, State Asm. Phil Ting and Matt Haney, Bay Area Reporter, SF Bay Guardian, SF Chronicle, SF Examiner, Sing Tao Daily, Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club, Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Grow SF, SF Bike Coalition, SF Chamber of Commerce, SF YIMBY, SPUR, Walk SF

NO: SF Green Party, SF Republican Party

Proposition B: Building Inspection Commission

Change the appointment process and qualifications for Commission members, and shift the appointment of the Director of the Department of Building Inspector to the Mayor.

YES: SF Democratic Party, SF Green Party, Bay Area Reporter, SF Bay Guardian, SF Chronicle, SF Examiner, Alice B Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club, SPUR

NO: SF Republican Party, Grow SF

Proposition C: Recall Timelines and Vacancy Appointments

Further limit the period to begin a recall signature effort, and prevent the temporary appointee from running for the same position in the next election.

YES: SF Democratic Party, SF Bay Guardian, SF Bay View, SF Examiner, Sing Tao Daily, Bernal Heights Democratic Club, Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club

NO: SF Green Party, SF Republican Party, Bay Area Reporter, SF Chronicle, Alice B Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club, Chinese American Democratic Club, Grow SF, SF Chamber of Commerce, SPUR

Proposition D: Office of Victim and Witness Rights; Legal Services for Domestic Violence Victims

Centralize related domestic violence services under a new City department.

YES: SF Democratic Party, State Sen. Scott Wiener, former Mayor Willie Brown, Bay Area Reporter, SF Examiner, Alice B Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club, Chinese American Democratic Club, Grow SF, SF Chamber of Commerce, SPUR

NO: SF Green Party, SF Bay Guardian, SF Chronicle, Bernal Heights Democratic Club, Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club

Proposition E: Behested Payments

Further restrict the ability of Board of Supervisor members from seeking donations to benefit either a government agency or private organization.

YES: SF Democratic Party, SF Green Party, Board of Supervisors President Shamann Walton, four other Supervisors (Chan, Peskin, Mar, Preston), By Area Reporter, SF Bay Guardian, SF Chronicle, SF Examiner, Alice B Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club

NO: SF Republican Party, State Sen. Scott Wiener, three Supervisors (Stefani, Mandelman, Melgar), Chinese American Democratic Club, Grow SF, SF Chamber of Commerce, SPUR, YIMBY Action

Proposition F: Refuse Collection and Disposal

Modify the Refuse Rate Board membership and the rules for governing future changes.

YES: SF Democratic Party, Mayor London Breed, all 11 Board of Supervisors, Bay Area Reporter, SF Bay Guardian, SF Chronicle, SF Examiner, Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club, SF Chamber of Commerce, SPUR

NO: SF Green Party, Sing Tao Daily, Grow SF

Proposition G: Public Health Emergency Leave

Require employers with more than 100 employees worldwide to provide up to 80 hours of paid public health emergency leave to staff in SF.

YES: SF Democratic Party, SF Green Party, Bay Area Reporter, SF Bay Guardian, SF Chronicle, SF Examiner, Alice B. Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club, Chinese American Democratic Club, SEIU 1021

NO: SF Republican Party, Grow SF, SF Chamber of Commerce, SPUR

Proposition H: Recall Measure Regarding Chesa Boudin

Remove District Attorney Chesa Boudin from office, prior to the term ending date of January 8, 2024, and replace with a temporary appointee by the Mayor.

YES: Marina Times, Chinese American Democratic Club, Grow SF, SF Chamber of Commerce

NO: SF Democratic Party, SF Green Party, State Asm. Phil Ting, Bay Area Reporter, SF Bay Guardian, SF Chronicle, SF Examiner, ACLU of Northern CA, CA Nurses Assn, Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club, SEIU 1021, Sierra Club

Randy's Guide 5-8-0: Special Election (School Board Recall, State Assembly District 17)

It's happened again. For voters in the City and County of San Francisco, they will have the opportunity to vote in their second recall election within the past six months. Election Day is February 15, and early in-person voting is available at City Hall. All registered voters should have already received their mail-in ballots. Mailed ballots must be postmarked or dropped off at one of 34 certified drop boxes or 314 in-person polling places by Election Day.

On a side note, SF is requesting members of the public to submit their proposed redrawn supervisorial maps soon! Check it out at Redraw SF Public Redistricting.

(Apologies in advance to those who are not voters in San Francisco, or to those who have already voted. Forward it on to voters who would benefit from this!)

School Board Recall

The three terms would normally end January 8, 2023, with the next scheduled election on November 8, 2022. If any of the recall propositions pass, the removal would take place 10 days after the Board certifies the election. Mayor Breed would then appoint a replacement to serve the remaining months of the term. Recall supporters focus on the delayed reopening of schools, the attempt to rename dozens of schools, the Washington High mural controversy, and the revised Lowell High admission standards.

Proposition A: Recall Measure Regarding Alison Collins

Shall Alison Collins be recalled (removed) from the School Board for the San Francisco Unified School District?

Yes: SF Republican Party; State Treasurer Fiona Ma; Mayor London Breed; State Sen. Scott Wiener; Supervisor Matt Haney; CA Democratic Party Vice Chair David Campos; former Mayor Art Agnos; former Board President Matt Gonzalez; Alice B Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club; Bay Area Reporter; SF Chronicle; SF Examiner

No: SF Green Party; Board of Supervisors President Shamann Walton; City College Board of Trustees President Shanell Williams; SF Democratic Party Chair Honey Mahogany; former Assemblymember Tom Ammiano; NAACP SF; SEIU 1021; SF Bay Guardian; SF Bay View; SF Berniecrats; United Educators of SF

Proposition B: Recall Measure Regarding Gabriela López

Shall Gabriela López be recalled (removed) from the School Board for the San Francisco Unified School District?

Yes: SF Republican Party; State Treasurer Fiona Ma; Mayor London Breed; State Sen. Scott Wiener; City College Board of Trustee Thea Selby; former Mayor Art Agnos; former Board President Matt Gonzalez; Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club; Bay Area Reporter; SF Chronicle; SF Examiner

No: SF Green Party; Board of Supervisors President Shamann Walton; City College Board of Trustees President Shanell Williams; SF Democratic Party Chair Honey Mahogany; former Assemblymember Tom Ammiano; NAACP SF; SEIU 1021; SF Bay Guardian; SF Bay View; SF Berniecrats; United Educators of SF

Proposition C: Recall Measure Regarding Faauuga Moliga

Shall Faauuga Moliga be recalled (removed) from the School Board for the San Francisco Unified School District?

Yes: SF Republican Party; State Treasurer Fiona Ma; Mayor London Breed; State Sen. Scott Wiener; City College Board of Trustee Thea Selby; former Mayor Art Agnos; former Board President Matt Gonzalez; Bay Area Reporter; SF Chronicle; SF Examiner

No: SF Green Party; Board of Supervisors President Shamann Walton; City College Board of Trustees President Shanell Williams; SF Democratic Party Chair Honey Mahogany; former Assemblymember Tom Ammiano; NAACP SF; SEIU 1021; SF Bay Guardian; SF Bay View; SF Berniecrats; United Educators of SF

State Assembly, District 17

All four have ties to Bay Area colleges - Campos, Haney, and Mahmood to Stanford, Selby and Haney to UC Berkeley. They are running to replace David Chiu, who became City Attorney of SF. Campos previously ran against Chiu in a very tight 2014 election for this seat representing the eastern half of SF, including the Castro, Mission, Bayview, South of Market, and Chinatown neighborhoods. If nobody wins a majority of votes, the runoff election would be April 19.

David Campos

The former District 9 Supervisor - and current Vice Chair of the California Democratic Party - spearheaded legislation starting CleanPowerSF and targeting Airbnb rentals. Campos also served briefly as Chief of Staff for District Attorney Chesa Boudin and in a couple of roles in Santa Clara County. Campos supports the recall of Alison Collins.

Endorsements: Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis; Assemblymember Phil Ting; District Attorney Chesa Boudin; former Mayor Willie Brown; Bay Area Reporter; CA Nurses Assn. (dual); CA Teachers Assn.; SF Bay Guardian; Sierra Club SF

Matt Haney

The District 6 Supervisor authored the Overpaid CEO Tax in 2020, and pushed through the homeless-in-hotels program during the pandemic, as well as 24-hour public bathrooms starting in 2019. While serving on the SF School Board, Haney proposed renaming Washington High due to slavery connections, and ending the current all-choice-based student lottery system. Haney supports the recall of Alison Collins.

Endorsements: Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond; Board of Supervisors President Shamann Walton; SF Democratic Party Chair and Haney's legislative aide Honey Mahogany; CA Nurses Assn. (dual); SEIU CA; SF Bike Coalition; SF Examiner

Bilal Mahmood

The former Policy Analyst in the Obama Administration has co-founded Gumball Capital, ClearBrain, and 13 Fund foundation. Mahmood, whose parents immigrated from Pakistan, supports the recall of all three School Board members.

Endorsements: Edwin M. Lee Asian Pacific Democratic Club (dual); Families for SF; GrowSF; SF Women's Political Committee; SF YIMBY; 314 Action Fund

Thea Selby

The City College of San Francisco Board of Trustee created the Lower Haight Merchants & Neighbors Association and was a founding member of the San Francisco Tenant Riders. Selby supports the recall of all three School Board members.

Endorsements: State Treasurer Fiona Ma; Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf; SFMTA Board Chair Gwyneth Borden; former Superintendent of Public Instruction Delanie Eastin; CA Legislative Women's Caucus

Randy's Guide 5-7-9: Recall Election

California's recall election of Governor Gavin Newsom is today! Every registered voter receives a ballot and a return envelope to address two questions. The ballot must be postmarked, dropped off at a polling location, or filled out at a polling place by today. So far, roughly 37% of registered voters have submitted their ballots. The last California recall in 2003 had 61% turnout and passed 55% to 45%. Arnold Schwarzenegger won with 49% of the vote.

(1) Shall Gavin Newsom be recalled (removed) from the office of Governor?

RealClearPolitics:

Question 1: 42% Yes (remove); 56% No (do not remove); 2% Undecided [9/6-9/13]

538:

Question 1: 42% Yes (remove); 57% No (do not remove); 1% Undecided [updated 9/14]

In favor (Yes): CA Libertarian Party; CA Republican Party; House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA); former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA); former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R); Bakersfield Californian; LA Daily News; OC Register

Against (No): CA Democratic Party; CA Green Party; CA Peace and Freedom Party; President Joe Biden (D); Vice President Kamala Harris (D); Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT); Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA); House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA); LA Times; Sacramento Bee; SF Chronicle; ACLU CA; CA Teachers Association; Human Rights Campaign; Planned Parenthood CA

(2) Candidates to succeed Gavin Newsom as Governor if he is recalled

RealClearPolitics:

Question 2: 35% Larry Elder (R); 8% Kevin Paffrath (D); 5% Kevin Faulconer (R); 5% John Cox (R); 3% Kevin Kiley (R); 3% Jacqueline McGowan (D); 3% John Drake (D); 2% Brandon Ross (D); 2% Caitlyn Jenner (R); 34% Other/Undecided/Blank [9/6-9/13]

538:

Question 2: 30% Larry Elder (R); 6% Kevin Paffrath (D); 5% Kevin Faulconer (R); 59% Other/Undecided/Blank [updated 9/14]

Blank: a strategy endorsed by the CA Democratic Party

Larry Elder (R): a radio show host endorsed by the American Independent Party, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R), former State Senate Majority Leader Gloria Romero (D-CA), Westminster Mayor Tri Ta, actor Clint Eastwood, Long Beach Press-Telegram, and OC Register

Kevin Paffrath (D): a real estate broker with a popular YouTube channel

Kevin Faulconer (R): a former Mayor of San Diego endorsed by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), State Assembly Minority Leader Marie Waldron (R-Escondido), State Senate Minority Leader Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita), Bakersfield Californian, Los Angeles Times, Crime Victims United, and San Diego Chamber of Commerce

John Cox (R): a businessman who ran against Governor Newsom in the 2018 gubernatorial race

Kevin Kiley (R): a State Assemblyman of Rocklin endorsed by former Rep. Doug Ose (R-CA) and blog RedState

Jacqueline McGowan (D): a Napa cannabis advocate who polled 5% two separate times during August

John Drake (D): a 20-year-old Latvian immigrant in Ventura

Brandon Ross (D): a physician-attorney from the San Diego area

Caitlyn Jenner (R): a media celebrity and former Olympian assisted by former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer and Trump 2020 campaign manager Brad Parscale

Others:

Dan Kapelovitz (G): a criminal law attorney endorsed by the CA Green Party and former Santa Monica Mayor Mike Feinstein (G)

Jeff Hewitt (L): a Riverside County Board of Supervisor endorsed by the CA Libertarian Party